Pin setting machine



Nov. 23, 1954 If. w. FRE-ITER PIN SETTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 9, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 23, 1954 F. w. FRET'n-:R

PIN SETTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 9, 1944 Nov. 23, 1954 F. w. FRETTER PIN SETTING MACHINE l0 SheetsSheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 9, 1944 Nv.23, 1954 F. w. FRETTER 2,695,172

PIN SETTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 9. 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Nov. 23, 1954 F. W. FRETTER PIN SETTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 9, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 23, 1954 F, wl FRETTER Y 2,695,172

PIN SETTING MACHINE original Filed Aug. 9, 1944 y1o sheets-sheet e ./:JER 43 9 5X I 79 5 K 59 l /J I l 76 I/ II J` l f6 f 1 /00/ 75\ /a/ 6 l f f X9 24 62 (g4/,g 9 99 93 FIG JU.

^ INVENToR. FfeaW/:re #er NOV. 23, 1954 F, w FRETTER 2,695,172

PIN SETTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 9, 1944 10 Sheets-Shea?l '7 Nov. 23, 1954 F. w. FRETTER 2,695,172

PIN SETTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 9. 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 I:l JE J4.

Nov. 23, 1954 F. w. FRETTER 2,695,172

PIN SETTING MACHINE l original Filed Aug. 9, 1944 y 1o sheets-sheet 9 Nov. 23, 1954 F. w. FRETTER PIN SETTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 9, 1944 E O 44 /2/ l:` l L i l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 q-/ww United States Patent PIN SETTING MACHINE Fred W.. Fretter, Detroit, Mich.

Original application August 9, 1944, Serial No. 548,676, now Patent No. 2,518,457, dated-August 1-5, 1950. Divided and' this application August 11, 1950, Serial No. 178,858

6 Claims. (Cl. 2731-.-43)

It is the object. of this invention to producea pinv sett-iug machine for a bowling alley which is relatively simple in structure, eiiicient in .operation and which will handle the pins expeditiously according to the require ments of the game.

The invention also contemplates a pinA setting mechanism which is admirably adapted for -automatic control. and operation under all the` various conditions arising during play.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side eleva-tion partly in longitudinal section of my bowling pin setJup mechanism showing the pins in position ready for play.

Fig. 2 is a side elevationpartly in longitudinal section showing my pin set-up mechanism after the balls have been played and in the operation of setting up the plus.

Fig. 3 is atop' plan view along the line 3--3 of Fig. l. 4 is al horizontal section along the line 4--4 of iFig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section -along the line 7--7 of Fig. 5. y

Figs. 8i, 9, l() and ll are details of the mechanism for setting the pin top-end up in the pin set-up-mecharusm;

Fig.- 9 being a section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. l being a view along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. l2 is a sectional detail showing the pin setupv mechanism setting the pin upright on the Ibowling alley. IFig. 1'3 is a section along the line 13--13 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a section along the line 14-14 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a section along the line 15-15 of Fig. 2

showing the ball return mechanism as the ball enters the return groove or track.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of the ball return mechanrils'm just prior to the time the ball enters the return c ute.

Fig. 17 is a section along the line 17-17 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11.8 is a detail showing the pin in full lines about to leave `the distributor belt top foremost, and in the dotted lines showing. the pin tumbling down the inclinedl track and being turned bottom end lirst.

Fig. 19 is a detail showing the pin at the bottom of an incl-ined track after the weight of the pin has closed the door barring exit of any other pin from the distributor belt down the same track.

Fig. 20 is a perspective of the sprocket and chain propelled conveyor belt.

Fig. 21- is a top plan view showing the agitator arranging the pins for entry into the pockets of the distributor.

Fig. 22 is a detail section showing the pins 'being acted upon by the agitator lingers as they slide down the inclined platform preparatory to entering the distributor pockets.

Fig. 23 is a detail showing a modified form of means for automatically locking the pin in the pin setter.

Referring more particularly to'the'drawings there is shown. ai conventional bowling alley 1, a stationary pit 2 at the end thereof, a back cushion or stop13, the convent tional inclined return .chute or groove 4 along.- which the. ball returns back to the player, and the usual'. te'n f bowling pins S in position forplay, Fig. 1.

The pin set-up mechanism is mounted upon a stationary l frame comprising two elevated horizontal tracks 6 supported upon vertical posts 7. The pin set-up mechanism can be divided into four component mechanisms; namely, a pin elevator, a pin distributor, a pin`set-up rack, and a pin sweeper.

Pin elevator The pinV elevator comprises a box 8 which s arranged to be lowered into the ball pit 2, Fig. 1. The box 8y cornprises a rear wall 9, two side walls 10, and av bottom wall 11 which is pivoted on a transverse shaft 12. The

oppositeends of the shaft 12 slidably eng-age the side walls with a lost motion connection int slots 13.

being inclined downwardly toward the rear of the box.

Box 8 has its upper end traversed by a plurality ofv parallel bars 16 which run transversely of alley 1 and `are securedat their opposite ends to the top of the side walls 10 of the box. Bars 16 are spaced one behind the other a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the' body of a standard bowling pin. Transverse bars of floor 11 fit in between the 4bars 16 so that the bars 15 and 16 cooperate in lowered position to form a solid floor (yieldably supported by spring stops 14)' upon which the ball falls as it rolls ofi the rear end of the alley 1. The box 8 is arranged to be elevated by means of fou-r cables 17, two secured to each of the sides 10, As box 8 is eleva-ted, iioor 11 remains uponstops 14- until shaft 12 strikes the bottom of later-ally opposed slots 13 in side walls 10 whereupon bottom 11 tilts downwardly and rearwardly against stops 18 on side walls 10 and then travels upwardly with box 8. Shaft 12 is positioned forwardly of the middle of oor 11 so tha-t the portion of lioor 11 to the rear of shaft l1.2 is heavier than that in front of the shaft 12 so that floor 11 normally tilts rearwardly and downwardlyas indicated. A spring can also be used for biasing or tilting floor 11 to this position,

The Aside walls of pit 2 are designated 19 and at one end off of rack 16 into return chu-te 4 as soon as the rack 16- is elevated to a position liush: with the upper end of side wall 19, Fig. 15.

The mechanism for raising and lowering elevator 8 com-prises ajcarriage 21 sup-ported upon wheels 22 which travel back and forth in tra'ckways 6, Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

A gear rack 23 is iixed lengthwise along one edge of the l carriage 21. A shaft 24 is journalled at its opposite ends in upright brackets 2,5 fixed to the stationary track mem bers 6. Drums 26 are lixed at opposite ends of shaft 24. Shaft 24 has fixedthereto a gear 27 (Fig. 3), which meshes with gear rack 23. Cables 17 are arranged to be wound up on drums 26 and have their opposite ends secured to the box 8. Cables 17 run over idler pulleys 28 mounted upon brackets 129 fixed to tracks 6 and also over idler pulleys 29 and 30 which are rotatably sup? ported upon arms 31 pivotally supported at one end upon lixed brackets 33 by pins 32. Brackets 33 are xed upon tracks 6. A compression spring 34 normally ybiases arm 31 upwardly about pivot 32.

The carriage 21 is` arranged to be moved forwardlyr to Vfront bar 16 is positionedv sufliciently to` the rear of box Patented Nev. 23, 1954.y

In l its lowered posi-tion the floor 11 rests on the spring stops 8 to clear the rear'edge of platform 39 when the box israised and lowered. -f

Pin distributor The distributor comprises a bottomoor 39 inclinedM designed so that the conveyor will move intermittently and so that the pockets 43, when the conveyor is stopped, will align themselves accurately with openings 59 in wall 47. The Geneva movement is conventional `and cornprises a disk 122 ixed on drive shaft 49 and provided with a pin 123 which engages one fork 124 of the wheel 125 mounted upon shaft 126 per revolution of disk 122. Thus, forked wheel 125 is rotated one quarter revolution for each revolution of disk 122. Gear 127 is fixed on the same shaft as wheel 125 and meshes with gear 128 which drives the shaft carrying the driving sprockets for the chain and sprocket conveyor drive. For each revolution of disk 122, wheel 125 is moved one-quarter turn so that wheel 125 is stationary for three-quarters of each revolution of disk 122. During this dwell the outlet openings 58 of pockets 43 are accurately aligned with openings 59 in wall 47.

The conveyor belt has 'fixed thereon a plurality of open ended pockets 43. The open ended pockets can be made from sheet metal or liber board and are fixed to the belt 41 along their line of contact therewith as at 44. The pulleys 42 are mounted upon shafts 45 which are journalled at their forward end in bearings 46 carried in the upright forward wall 47. Left hand pulley, Fig. 5, is driven by electric motor 48, shaft 49, and a conventional Geneva movement 50 so that the movement of conveyor belt 41 is intermittent, Figs. 5 and 7. Pockets 43 have their inlet openings ared outwardly as at 51.

Referring to Fig. 14 it will be seen that there are sixteen pockets 43 mounted in spaced relation about conveyor belt 41. The number of pockets 43 is optional but should, of course, preferably be greater than ten, the

standard number of pins used in bowling. The bottomsof pockets 43 on the lower half of conveyor belt 41 are usli with Hoor 39 of the distributor so that the pins can freely slide down' floor 39 and into pockets 43 as `the pockets travel with the conveyor belt. It is immaterial whether the pins go intoI the pockets bottom endrst or topv end irst. V

T o facilitate aligning the pins with the pockets 43 as they travel along the forward lower end of platform 39, an agitator is provided. The agitator comprises a shaft 52 journalled in bearings 53 mounted on the underside of platform 39. Shaft 52 is also driven by electric motor 48 by suitable gearing 54 and stub shaft 55. The -'-distributor platform 39 is provided with a plurality of parallel spaced slots 56. A plurality of sets of spaced'agitating fingers 57 arerixel in spider fashion on shaft 52 and are arranged to rotate with the shaft and in so doing pass through slots 56. Fingers 57 turn pins 5 so that the longitudinal axes of the pins are parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pockets 43. In other words, agitating fingers 57 position the pins either bottom or top foremost so that they will readily slide by gravity into the mouth of whichever pocket 43 presents itself to the pin. If the pocket is already loaded with a pin, obviously another pin will not slip into that pocket because the size or diameter of the pocket is such that it will accommodate only one pin at a time. Each pocket is slightly greater in cross section than the diameter of the pin so that the pin will have a loose or sloppy [it in the pocket.'v The clearance between the pin and the walls of the pocket will always be such that another pin cannot enter or even begin to enter the pocket which is already vcarrying a bowling pin. The conveyor belt 41 and pin agitator preferably run continuously while theV pin setting .mechanism is .in operation but can be shut ol if desired duringthe'timezthat the bowler is actually throwing the ball.

The wall 47 along which the outlet or forward ends 58 of pockets 43 travel is provided with ten openings59,

seven of whichare placed. ina loweri h(Jy1.'?-'.Q11lii1.row and' by a sliding door or gate 60.

Pin setter rack The ten bowling pins and their position on the alley 1 are shown in Fig. 4. The pin setter rack is mounted on the same frame as the'pin distributor so that the pin setting rack mechanism and the distributor move up and down and fore and aft together as a unit. The pin setting `mechanism comprises a oor 62 provided with ten openings centered perpendicularly above the points on the alley upon which pins one to ten are set when in bowling position. These ten openings are designated 63. Fig. 5 shows these openings in vertical alignment with pins one to ten when set. Floor 62 is connected by side panels 64 at the opposite ends 'of the pin distributor with inclined distributor floor 39 and supports the distributing mechanism. Floor 62 is suspended at three points from carriage 21 upon screws 65 which are supported on carriage 21 perpendicularly to the alley 1. Screws 65 are tubular and provided with external threads. is journalled over a shaft 66 fixed at its upper end to carriage 21and having an enlarged head 67 at its lower end for retaining screw 65 thereon. Anti-friction bearings can be mounted between heads 67 and the lower ends of screws 65 to carry the weight of the rack and distributor mechanisms. walls 68 which carry bosses 69 which are internally threaded and have a screw it with screws 65. Thus, turning of screws 65 raises and lowers the pin setter rack-and the pindistributor. The screws 65 are driven by electric motor. 70 through stub. shaft 71horizontal shafts 72 and 73 and beveled gearing 74, Figs. l and 3. Thus, screws 65 rotate in synchronism to cause threaded bosses 69 to move upwardly and downwardly in unison. y

For each of the tenl openings in floor 62 there is a corresponding opening 59 in wall 47 of the distributor. chute 75 runs from 'each opening 59 in wall 47 to its corresponding opening in the floor 62. Thus, chutes run from the threenupper openings S9, Fig. 14, to the one, two, three holes in Fig. 5, and the seven openings 59 in the lower row ofrwall 47, Fig. 14, are connected by chutes with holes four toten in oor 62. All of these inclined chutes and their control mechanism for the pins are identical so therefore only one will be described.

Each chute comprises a pair of spaced inclined rails 75. These inclined rails 75 extend from adjacent the lower corners of opening'59, Fig. 14, downwardly to a point 'adjacent its respective opening 6,3 in the iloor 62. The' rails 75 are xed at their upper ends to wall 47 and at their lower` ends to floor 6 2. Straddling each opening 63 is a bracket76 which is secured ,at its `lowerend to oor'62. Bracket 76 is provided with opposed slots 77 inwhich are slidably mounted slides 78. These slides are connected to a U-shaped yoke 79 connected to a plunger 80 connected at its upper end to core 81 of solenoid coil 82. Thus, as solenoid82 is energized, yoke 79 and slides '78 are pulled upwardly in bracket 76 to the top of slots 77. kLevers 83 are pivotalh.f connected by pins 84 to the lower part of bracket 76. Levers 83 are each provided with a cam opening 85. Pins 86, mounted on slidesv78, project inwardly into openings 85. Levers 83 at their outer ends are connected by a yoke 87 which is fixed at its opposite ends in the ends of levers 83. Yoke 87 is provided with a V portion 88 so .that is will tit around the neck of the bowling pin.

A pair of levers S9 are pivoted intermediate their ends to the rails 75 by shaft 90. .The spaced levers 89 are fixed together in spaced relation by a bar 91. Levers 89 between shaft 90 and bar 91 are provided with V slots 92 in lwhich yoke 87 is arranged to rest while in bowling pin receiving position. The opposite ends of levers 89 are'xed together in spaced'relation by a shaft 93 which is arranged to engage under 'a pin 94 projecting forwardly i from gate 60. When a pin comes to rest on the forward ends of le'vers 89, the levers are tilted counterclockwise (Fig. 8) thereby raising door 60 to the closed position.

A'pair of links 95 have a fixed pivotal connection at their' upper ends with yoke 79 as at 96 and have a lost motion connection with the outer ends of shaft 93 in elongated slots 97. Thus, as the solenoid elevates yoke 79, links 95 pivot upwardly and serve to maintain door 60 in the closed position fwhen the weight of the pin is removed from the forwardendsoflevers89.

Each screw.

The pinv setter rack is provided with sidey As a pin 5 falls out ofdischargeopeningSQ fromfpocket 43,it slides on chute 75. Iff the. pinY is-positonedi bottom foremost, it simply slides down. chute 75 to the' dotted line position, Fig. 8,. where. it abuts locating stop.` 98. andA also rests upon the forward or left-hand ends of levers189, Figs. 8 and l1. If the pin slides out of pocket 43 top foremost, Fig. 18, then the forwardmost portion of the pin as it slides out of pocket 43 overbalancesthe rearmost portion of the pin and causes the pin to rotate so that its top projects downwardly exactlryas shown in the full lines, Fig. 8, whereupon the top 99 of the' pin engages under shaft 90 as it slides down chute 75 thereby turning pin 5 over so that the bottommost portion is now foremost and the pin comes to rest in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8'.

When solenoid 82 is energized, yoke 79 is raised thereby elevating slides 78 in slots 77 whichfcauses pins 86 to move upwardly. As pins 86v move upwardly, they slid# ably engage the upper edges 100y of openings 85' which serve as cams. As pins 86 rise, they coact with cam edges 100 of levers 83 to rotateV the' levers counterclockwise', Fig. 8, whereupon yoke 87 contacts the neck portion 101 of the pin and moves the pin toward vertical or upright position. As the pin moves from the dotted line position, Fig. 8, to the upright position, it passes bottom foremost through opening 63' in oor 62 but yoke 87 is positioned around the neck portion 101 between the body portion 102 and the head .portion 99 of the pin and yoke 87 thereby coacts with the abutment 103v (which is the upper portion of the rear face of stop 98) to grip and lock the pin in vertical position in the opening 63, as shown in Fig. 12. Since the size of head 99 ofa pin 5 is greater than the clearance between yoke 87 and abutment 103, thepin cannot fall downwardly. Further, as yoke 79 is elevated by the solenoid, links 95 are swung upwardly so that shaft 93' engagesV beneath pin 94' and maintains door 60 in the elevated position closing opening 59 so that after the weight ofthe pin is removed from levers 89, another pin cannot slide down the pin chute 75 leading to an opening 63 which has already received its bowl- 1n 1n.

.gOlhe end of each opening 85, the uppermost end when levers83 are in raised or pin locking position, Fig. 12, terminates in a locking notch 104 so that the. weight of the bowling pin 5 cannot rotate levers 83 clockwise to release the pin. In other words, pins 86 on. slides 78- engage in notches 104 so that the bowling pin itself cannot'ireverse or unlock yoke.87, The upper sides of notches 104 engage pins 86 such that levers 83 can only be released by a downward movement of slides 78. and pins 86, which movement is controlled by solenoid 82 and yoke 79. When a solenoid 82 is deenergized, then-core 81, rod 80 and yoke 79 move downwardly by the force of gravity thereby moving slides 78. and pins 86 downwardly which in turn rotates levers. 83 clockwise to thereby release the bowling pin heldl between yoke 87 and. thestop.

103. If desired, the downward motion-of plunger' 8.0 canbe assisted by a spring.

The pin sweeper The sweeping mechanism comprises a sweeper 105 pivotally mounted upon the ends of parallel bell crank levers 106. Levers 106 are pivoted to slidingblocks 114' by pins 107. Blocks 114 are arranged to slide fore and aft in the parallel tracks 115. The forward motion of sliding blocks 114 is arrested byv stop 116. Thus, when blocks 114 abut stops 116, nuts 110 continue to travel forwardly on screws 108 and thereby rotate sweeper arms 106 counterclockwise to raise the sweeper 105. On thereverse or sweeping action, nuts 1'10 travel, rearwardly thereby rst causing arms 106 to rotateclockwise and' thereby lower sweeper 105 to the dotted line position, Fig. 1. Further rotation' of screws 108 causesblocks 1514 to travel rearwardly in tracks 115 simultaneously with the rearward travel of nuts 110 thereby sweeping the pins off the rearmost end of alley 1 and out of the gutters into the elevator 8. Reverse rotation of screws 108 causes the sweeper to move forwardly along alley land whenblocks 114 abut stops 116 the sweeper `is` elevated to' the'position shown in Fig. 1.

Levers 106 are raised and lowered by screws 108 driven Internally threaded nuts 11,0

lower the sweeper. The screws-i108 are rotated izr'syn chronism. The drive` of the 1:igl;1.t harit1v screw.- 1083V asviewedifronrthe: bowlers` position, is accomplished bya chain and. sprocket drive. lllfrom. left hand` screw shaft 1081.

The operation of my bowling pin handling apparatus is as follows: Asshown in Fig. l, the ten bowling pins 5 are in: their playing position.. The pinsetter rack and distributor are. raised and in rearward position. The

` bowler thrrnvs` thel-rstQbalI. If the bowler does not make.

a .strike sot that someA of the?. pins are'left standing, then the circuit. to motor 70-is; closed sol that.' the motor 70, driving through stub shafti71-,. shafts 72and 73, and screws 65,1 lowers the pin settertoitslowermost position, Fig. 12. As'the` pin setter lowers, openings 63 willpass downwardlyV about then pins that were left standing. As the pin setter rack. reaches its Iowermost position, the tops of the pinsV that were left standing willabut' against spring 130. and thereby close contacts 1'31I which in turn. closes tl'le electrieal circuit to the solenoid 82 aboveeach particular pin. As the solenoid is energized, it draws core 81 and yoke 79 upwardly thereby raising pins 86 which act through cam slots 8'5 to swing arms 83'. upwardly, Fig. 12, to` thereby' lock this. piny between yoke 87 and` stop 103.

Each of the pins which have been left standing will bev lockedin the pin setter rack by this same operation. rl`he solenoidsf 82; remain energized'` and: the circuit to motor 70 is' now reversed so that motor 70 reverses its direction of rotation and raises". the pin setting: rack tothe position shownhiir Fig; 1'. The pinsetter rack as it risescarriesA withit those' pins which were left' standing. after the first ball was rolled. The' circuit'. to motorV 109 is now closed sothat'V the sweeper moves` downwardly on to the alley y 1, thenv travels toward the' pit, sweeping the fallen pins position on the alley'l. As the. pin. setting. rack reaches `1slowered positiom the circuits to alla the solenoids. 82 are broken, as by a manual-switch not shown, so. that coreV 81and yoke 79 move downwardly either by gravity or by the expansion of a compression spring which backs,

up coreg 81. As` yoke 791 movesdownwardly, pins 86 move out of notches 1.04 and along. the lower edges 133 ofv openings to cam arms 83V downward to their initial position, Figa 8, thereby releasing the bowlingpin. Motor 70Y is now reversed to raise `t-he pin setter rack to. its initial position, Fig. 1`. Suitable limi-'t switchesA are provided for stopping motor 70' at the end of -the upward and. downward travel of' the pin setter rack. and for. stopping the sweeper motor 1'09 at the end of. its forwardy travel and. a reversing switch for reversing the same. atV the end of the rearward travelof the sweeper.v

The bowler nowv rolls his secondball. and whether he knocks down allof thel remaining pins is immaterial.

becausemotor 109 is again. setin operation to sweep the remaining pins from the alley and. gutters into the elevator 8 and the sweeper isfthenretracted'. to the position. shown in Fig. l'. The pins as they are swept into the elevator 8 fall on to the rack 16. and the pivoted slats 15 which cooperate` to present a substantially. solid door. The ball likewise fall'sinto the elevator eitherdirectly from the rear end of the alley 1` or after striking. the back cushion 3.' Since slats 15 and rack 16, form a. springsupported oor no injuryis done either to the rack I6 or't'othe bal-l. Motorf36 `is nowsetinoperation so that screw V'actsthrougl'l nut3'7 'to Adraw carriage 21 and. the raised pin setter rack and distributor forwardly or tol the left, Fig. r1. Asthe carriage 2 1f'rnovesforwardly, gear rack 2,3. rotatesA drums 26 so that-cables 1"'1'Y windl up on drums 26 and thereby raiseV elevator 8.` However, as: the cables 1.7 are drawn upwardly the box .S'and rack 16 move upwardly with cables' 17 butv floor llrernains on stops 14 until shaft 12 reaches Athe bottoms of slots 13Jin the' side walls of bonv 8; Asrack 16 moves away from oor 11', pins S'f'allthrough the* transverseA sl'ots between bars`16' whereas the'ball' remainsY on topV of the bars f6, as shownl in- Figs. 151v andl 1'6. As soon as shaft 12v reaches the-bottoms of slots 13, hoor 11' tilts rearwardly and downwardly-uponstops 1'8 carried examines by,y sides l; and .then moves upwardlyy with the'k boxy 8. Upon reaching Ithe height of the return chute or track 4, Fig. 16, the ball rolls oli bars 16, which are inclined downwardly-toward the return chute 4, which returns the ball to the player in a conventional manner. Finally the elevator reaches its topmost position Vwhereby the forward end 38 of oor 11 strikes the rearmost edge of floor 39 on the distributor thereby tilting floor 11 forwardly and downwardly. It should be remembered that as the elevator 8 rises, the pin setter rack and distributor are moved forwardly so that the distributor will move clear ofthe elevator. `This positionA is shown in Fig. 2. Motor 36 is now shut off. The pins slide from inclined floor 11 on to the distributor door 39 where they are agitated by the rotary agitator 52 and aligned with the pockets 43 which are being moved with a step by step or intermittent motion by motor 48 and Geneva movement 50. Each pin linds, a pocket 43 in the distributor and is carried about by this pocket until it reaches an opening 59 in the forward wall 47 of the distributor which is open,` that is, one wherein the door 60 is lowered indicating that the opening 63 in the pin setter oor at the opposite end of chute 75 leadingfrom such opening 59 is free to receive a pin to be set preparatory to setting the pin in the position on the alley corresponding to .such unoccupied opening 63 in the'pin lsetter rack iloor62. As the pin tumbles out'of opening 59 on to the inclined track 75, it is inverted or turned over so that its body 102 is positioned forward of its top 99, dotted line showing Fig. Y

After the pins are distributedby the distributing pockets 43 and chute 75 to the positions over their respective openings 63 in the floor ofthe pin setter rack 62, as indicated in the dotted line showing Fig. 8, solenoids 82 are energized by a manual switch not shown, thereby raising yoke 79 which acts through slides 78, pins 86 and cam slots 85 to elevate levers 83 and'raise the pins to vertical position with a yoke 87 surrounding the neck 101 of each pin and coacting with stop 103 to lock the same in upright position in opening 63, as shown in Fig. 12. The pin setter rack is returned to its rearward position by operating motor 36 and motor 70 is then set in operation to lower the pin setter rack and pins to their respective positions on the alley. k After the pins are set upon the alley, solenoids 82 are deenergized which causes yokes 79 and associated parts to release the locking yokes 87 from the pins. Motor 70 is'now reversed and the pin rack raised whereupon the pins are in set position ready for play.

As the pins roll down its respective chute 75, it rests upon the forward end of levers 89 thereby tilting the same counterclockwise, Figs. 8 and 19, and elevating the door 60 to closed position, thereby preventing another pin from being fed down this same chute 75. Slots 97 in arms 95 permit shaft 93 to move upwardly as doors 60 are elevated by the weight of the pin. When solenoid 82 elevates yoke 79, then links 95 act to maintain door 60 n the elevated position closing opening 59 during the resetting of pins such as when all the pins are not knocked down by the rst ball rolled.

It is understood, of course, that the pin setter rack is always in the rearmost position during the setting of the pins and is moved forwardly only when the pins and ball are being elevated from pit 2 by means of elevator 8 on to the distributor floor 39 and return chute 4, respectively. After the pins are elevated on to the distributor floor, the pin setter rack and distributor are moved to rearmost position by motor 36 and screw 35.

It is,I of course, appreciated that the drive for each of the component parts of this pin setting mechanismcan be either independently or automatically controlled. Preferably the drive for each of these mechanisms is an electricaldrive. If the mechanisms are independently cone trolled, then a separate circuit will be provided for the pin sweeper motor 109, the carriage motor 36, the pin setter rack elevating and lowering motor 70, the solenoids 82, and the distributor motor 48. In such case the circuits to these motors and solenoids will be controlled by independ ent switches operated inV accordance with the demands of 8 hasbeen elevatedA withthe pins which were notzknocked down, motorr109 will beset in motion to sweep from the alley and 'guttersthe pins which were knocked down. Motor 48 for the distributor can be run continuously if desired. After the alley has been swept, then motor 70 will be reversed to lower the pins which were not knocked down'by the iirst ball rolled to their original positionand pin setter rack 62 again raised whereupon the second ball can be thrown.

In the case of a strike, or after two balls have been thrown, then sweeper motor 109 is set in operation to sweep the alley and gutters clear and deposit the pins in the elevator 8. After the sweeper has completed its sweeping and return cycle, then motor 36 is set in operation to elevate the pins on to the inclined distributor platform 39 and to return the ball via return chute 4. After the pins have been deposited on distributor floor 39, motor 36 is reversed to return carriage 21 and the `pin setter rack and distributor which carriage 21 supportato their rearmost position. After the pins have been fed o nto the pin setter rack 62, solenoids 82 are actuated to raise yokes 79 and position .the pins in vertical position in theirl openings 63 with the bottoms of the pins down and the necks of the pins locked between yokes 87` and stops 103. While the carriage 21 is in its rearmost position, motor 70 is set in operation to lower the pin rack 62 down, solenoids S2 are deenergized to release the pins in their respective-playing positions on the alley, motor 70.s re,

versed to elevate pin setter rack 62 and the pins arenow vready for play. The circuits and switches for each of the several electric driving motors and solenoids are noty shown.

As used herein the front of the bowling alley meansthe portion of the -alley from which the vball is thrown and the rear of the bowling alley is the part of the' bowling alley toward-,which the ball rolls and where the pins are positioned.

The .modilied form of pin setting device shown in Fig. 23` differs from the principal form described above only "in .that solenoid 82 is not depended upon for elevatingV over a standing pin, the head 99 of the pin, as shown in Fig. 23, engages the cross portion of yoke 79 thereby elevating yoke 79 relatively to oor 62 as the floor 62 continues to be lowered. Actually, the head 99 of the 'pin arrests further lowering movement of yoke 79. Thus,

as the pin setter floor 62 and associated mechanism continues to lower, the arrested movement of yoke 79 acts through slides 78, pins S6, cam openings 85 to tilt levers 83 upwardly, Fig. 8, which brings yoke 87 up into contact with the neck 101 of the pin to thereby lock the same between yoke 87 and abutment 103. This brings pins 86 into locking notches 104 so that the standing pin will now be elevated when the pin setter is again raised preparatory to sweeping the knocked down pins from the alley. Upon lowering the pin setter to reset these pins, previously left standing the yoke 79 can be lowered manually or mechanically or by reversing the ow of current in solenoid 82 to thereby repel or move core 81 outwardlyof the solenoid and lower yoke 79 which will release the pin. The pin will be released by this action since even a slight downward movement of yoke 79 produces a corresponding downward tilting of'levers 83 and yoke 87 which in turn permits the yoke -79 to travel progressively further ina downward direction. In such case core 81 would have a wire winding the same as the solenoid coil with a direct solenoid coil and repel the core.

I claim:

1. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, .la pin setter rack having an opeing through which a pin is adapted to be discharged, an inclined track for delivering a pin to said opening, means on said inclined track for inverting a pin traveling head foremost down the track so that it comes to rest in an inclined position bottom foremost on said rack, and means for tilting said pin to an upright position and releasably locking the samein said position in said opening prior to discharge of the pin through said opening.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for tilting the pin to an upright position 1n the opening in the pin setter rack and releasably locking the sarnecomprses a pair of levers arranged to straddle the opening, a yoke carried by said levers and adapted to engage the neck of a pin in said inclined position, a stationary stop supported by the pin setter rack adjacent the opening, and means for pivoting the levers upwardly whereby the yoke engages the neck of the pin and moves it into engagement with said stationary stop to thereby stand the pin bottom-end down and to releasably lock the pin between the said stop and the yoke in elevated position.

3. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a pin setter rack having an opening through which a pin is adapted to be discharged, an inclined track for delivering a pin to said opening, means on said inclined track for inverting a pin traveling head foremost down the track so that it comes to rest in an inclined position bottom foremost on the rack, means for tilting the pin to an upright position in the opening in the pin setter rack comprising a pair of levers arranged to straddle the opening, a yoke caried by said levers and adapted to engage 'the neck of a pin in said inclined position, a stationary stop supported by the pin setter rack adjacent the opening, means for pivoting the levers upwardly whereby the yoke engages the neck of the pin and moves it into engagement wtih said stationary stop to thereby stand the pin bottom-end down and to releasably lock the pin between the said stop and the yoke in elevated position, and means for lowering the pin setter rack whereby the pin is set upon the alley, and means for retracting the yoke from the neck of the pin to thereby release the same preparatory to elevating the pin setter rack above the said pin.

4. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a oor having an opening therein arranged to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the bowling alley, said opening in the iloor being large enough to pass a pin standing on the alley when the pin setter floor is lowered so that the neck of the pin will project above the floor, a pair of inclined tracks leading to said opening for delivering a pin to said opening in an inclined position, a stationary stop carried by said iloor adjacent said opening, a pivoted yoke on said floor arranged to swing upwardly from a position disposed between said tracks into engagement with the neck of said pin standing on the alley to lock the same between the yoke and the stationary stop, and means actuated in the lowering of the pin setter by contact with the head of the pin to fil) swing the yoke automatically into locking engagement with the pin, said yoke when disposed between said tracks being adapted to engage the neck of a pin disposed in an inclined position at the lower end of the track and tilt the pin to an upright position when the yoke is swung upwardly.

5. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, the combination of a pin setter rack having a plurality of openings therein corresponding to the positions of the pins on the alley, an inclined track leading to each of said openings, a gate for barring the inlet end of said inclined track, a pivoted lever having one end operatively associated with said gate and the other end projecting into the path of the pin as it travels down said inclined track, said last mentioned end of said lever being arranged to be engaged by a pin traveling down said inclined track to pivot said lever and thereby shift said gatekto a position barring the inlet end of said inclined trac 6, The combination set forth in claim 5 including means on said track for causing said pin to come to rest in the lower end of said track in an inclined position on said rack adjacent said opening, means for tilting said pin to an upright position in said opening out of engagement with said last mentioned end of said lever, and means connected with said tilting means for holding said gate in a position barring said inlet end of said track when the pin is tilted to an upright position out of A engagement with said last mentioned end of said lever.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 809,245 Brnkmeyer Jan. 2, 1906 1,068,131 Holland July 22, 1913 1,190,651 Hedenskoog July 1l, 1916 1,590,124 Roble June 22, 1926 1,852,870 Williams Apr. 5, 1932 1,896,383 White Feb. 7, 1933 2,015,428 Hedenskoog Sept. 24, 1935 2,307,839 Kaufman Jan. 12, 1943 2,319,925 Flanagan May 25, 1943 2,341,475 Parra et al. Feb. 8, 1944 2,530,385 Frye Nov. 21, 1950 

